Do you remember the year it didn't rain?

In years to come they will still be talking about the camp in Ireland where it actually didn't rain. Lough Dan '99 was that camp and the sun will be one of the many things for which it will be remembered. Camp for 1999 was held from the 24th to the 31st of July at Lough Dan Adventure Centre in Co. Wicklow. Located on the shore of Lough Dan in the Wicklow mountains, Lough Dan Adventure Centre covers 52 acres and is owned by Scouting Ireland SAI. It is professionally managed and has a team of qualified instructors. Camp '99 was also a Regional camp so we joined scouts from all of the Waterford and South Kilkenny troops. The site was in a great spot, close to the lake and surrounded by the Wicklow mountains. Conditions which midgets also find ideal and running through a wall of midgets is definitely an experience that you don't forget easily!

Camp started with one of those classic hot day bus rides which would have been even more interesting had the bus not been fairly decent for a change. Camp Chief Ian Sinnott and Billy Collins had travelled up on the advance camp so they had all the tents and the marquee pitched by the time we arrived (we wished). We did manage to get the tents and shelters up reasonably quickly although we were fairly tied for space as we were waiting for another group to head home the following day. Eventually everything got sorted out and Billy Collins even managed to get both Tilly lamps working on the first day of camp. After plenty of midget fighting and so on we rounded off the first day with a game of Jenga and of course the Brother Virgilius Megaquiz. Plans were also finalised for the hike in the surrounding Wicklow mountains the next day.

High Mountains and Thick Forests

We couldn't have picked a better day for a stroll in the Wicklow mountains. After finally sorting out who wanted to go on the 'short' hike and who wanted to go on the 'long' hike, we eventually got underway at around 10.30am. The longer route took in Scarr, Kanturk, Knocknacloghoge and a few even managed to run up Luggala aswell. The route gave excellent views of Lough Dan and Lough Tay aswell as both the north and south ends of the Wicklow range. It was a tough route with a few shortcuts of the forest fight variety and despite phone calls pleading for a lift back from Lough Tay the 15 or so hardy souls led by Ian Sinnott and Colm Ennis were left with no choice but to hike back along the Wicklow Way. They were glad they did however as the views were once again spectacular. Meanwhile the shorter route took in the side of Lough dan aswell as a low level walk across to Lough Tay.

Above: The view across Lough Dan taken from the southern end on the ascent to Scarr.

Canoes, Arrows and Rock

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were the days when we got most of the on site activities in. They were all done either with the whole contingent or in groups of two or three patrols. On Monday morning we started off with the assault course and in the afternoon 3 patrols headed off to the canoeing which turned out to be a good craic and had plenty of those half eskimo rolls. Escaping the midgets provided a good incentive for an overnight bivvy up at the northern end of the lake on Monday night also. On Tuesday and Wednesday we began the rock climbing, the archery and got in some raft building. This was interspersed with plenty of games of volleyball on our ressurected volleyball net. There was also a few interpatrol activities with some of the other Waterford and South Kilkenny Region troops who were on site.

Above: (L-R)Leon Mullally, Jamie Cunningham, Paul McSweeney and Philip Hearne on Camp 99.

Imax, Star Wars, Water Battles etc.

The day trip on Thursday meant an early start and we got a busa into Bray before getting the dart from there into Dublin City Centre. Our first stop was the Sheridan Imax Centre to see the new T-Rex film. They weren't joking when they said that the screen was big. It really is and we even got shown around the projector complex. After that we headed off in groups around Dublin although Billy Collins managed to persuade a few souls to go and see Star Wars - The Phantom Menace for a second time. After a fairly hectic trip back to Bray on the dart we spent a while there before heading back to the site. Everybody was as usual a lot poorer but with only one day left to go on camp the poverty could be lived with.

On Friday we got in the last of the activities including some more canoeing and another run on the assault course. The weather was also ideal for throwing water around at each other and when Ian or Billy tells people to line up for a photo, the next time people will be more wary.

Above: Brian Casey and Craig O'Brien prepare for canoeing at Lough Dan.

Caravan laid to rest

There is only one thing worse than setting up everything at the start of camp and thats taking it all apart at the end of that. Fortunately everything came down fairly quickly and there was a chance to say a last goodbye to the midgets before we got on the bus to Waterford. On the way back Billy Collins wrote off his caravan thanks to an unexpected meeting with a ditch and there were rumours of a Breda Collins inspired tax scam. Overall Camp 99 was hailed as a success. All the activities went quite well although the swimming was a bit restricted. The weather of course made the camp and it even held up for the Spraoi Festival weekend which was on when we got back.

Above: The contingent from the 3rd, 7th and 13th Scout Troops Most gather at the volleyball net before the waterfight begins.

Fethard on Sea in Co. Wexford was chosen as the follow up for Lough Dan and a full account is available on our Camp 2000 page.

Above: Members of the De La Salle Scout Unit take part in canoeing and rafting at Lough Dan.

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