Charmouth Scouts to 'Sleep under the Moon in June'

Members of the 1st Charmouth Scout Group are being asked to collectively clock up 100 nights camping outside this month.

This means as many beavers, cubs, scouts, explorers, and their parents, as possible spending a night or two out in a tent, shelter, hammock or bivouac.

Scout leader Kevin Payne said the mass camp-out at members' homes is the best substitute possible for the group's cancelled or postponed camps planned at Brownsea Island, Windsor Great Park and other locations before the coronavirus pandemic.

He said: "We had also hoped to have a group camp locally, but cannot now see this being able to be run. So, at present, this is the best we can do."

Youngsters will be encouraged to tackle a number of fun challenges during the camp such as packing their own rucksacks, cooking their own meals, making balloon rockets and having a go at some night navigation - all under parental supervision.

Some of the cubs, scouts and explorers have already been practising their shelter building and wood fire cooking in preparation for their moon camp.

Since not all parents have tents, hammocks or tarps, the group will be making these available to any parent who wants to borrow them.

If the members cannot sleep out in their gardens, then they are being encouraged to build a den or shelter in the bedroom, out of sheets and blankets, and to hang an image of the moon from the ceiling or lampshade.