It's a hard job finding adjectives and expressions suitable to describe the beauty and power of a KISC Summer, even if it is late in the Summer. None of the descriptions I imagine in my head are really paying justice to reality, so I will just give you a four-adjectives impression.

Summer at KISC is (and it has been so far): vibrant, rainy, electrifying and adventurous.

Vibrant... the enthusiasm and pure joy that guests and Pinkies have put in everything they have done. The hundreds of vivacious smiles from Scouts of all ages, the genuine excitement for a song, a water fight and the far sight of a real marmotte. The incredible speed and pride with which hundreds of badges have been swapped and various neckerchiefs worn at once - from far off it looks like a massive amount of colourful fabric rings that are holding Scouts heads on top of their bodies and not a neck! The colours seen are the deep greens of the hills and trees when it's sunny and the pink of the rosed cheeks of those whom did not put enough sunlotion while hiking. All the shades of the alpine environment around us, capable of changing appereance according to the weather, bright and luminous during sunny days, silvery and nostalgic during the cloudy and rainy ones until the complete disappereance when the fog arrives. It has happened a couple times this Summer that the Chalet and Campsite have been suspended in white clouds - possibly it was not the best for those who wanted to picture a alpine panorama, but this disappereance of mountains, trees and real landscape made Scouts the unique characters on the scene. Their voices, colours and emotions are more noticeable and vibrant than ever, overtaking the eye, the ear and the mind and affirming themselves as the fundamental element of KISC itself.

Rainy - there not much to say about it. It is self-explanatory really. Rain. Water, often accompained by wind, low temperatures and grey sky. Either you mind getting wet and wearing wellys or not, rain comes down. We can proudly affirm we have had plenty of water drops this season but it hasn't stopped us from getting the best out of it! No Scouts are hiding in their tents, instead they are jumping around in their rain coats and taking part in a crazy race of games around the campsite or a light trail. They are jumping into water puddles, rolling in the mud and in real Scouting tradition singing in the rain!

Electrifying - more than a thunderbolt! The sounds, the views, the high adventure, the discoveries, the chances of a summer camp, the diversity, the power and energy that only happy people can generate and transmit. It is a mix of feelings that surprise and catch you. Human electricity. It lights thoughts and hearts and it links them all.

Adventurous - The way cubs, scouts, explorers, rovers, leaders, and guides see different adventures through their own eyes. Climbing a rock wall can be adventurous just as making friends with new people or being away from home for the first time. It's fantastic to see so many Scouts taking up challenges: laughing, crying, and troting along ready to jump into something new. I imagine there are many more big and little adventure happening around, but there is not enough space among these lines, so you must come for yourself and live your own adventure.

I guess many of you are imagining me swallowing a post-modern novel before writing this because of the type of expression and brief impression I'm giving you. The thing is that I have been spending the last two months seeing a never ending  flow of Scouts and Guides passing by and each time I find myself surprised by the powerful, profound feelings and impressions they leave behind at every step. The way they enjoy serious and silly moments with no fear.

No matter if the are just a few people are a big group (almost a contingent) they all give and take something out of their Summer experience.

Talking about big groups, the last week has been animated by the presence of the Great London Middlessex West District, which came over with 607 Scouts and Guides to have adventures in the mountains and to experience international friendship. They are pretty well organised with full days of programme, a daily newspaper and their own radio station - live from Uncle Sams on the Campsite. They are kept company by many other Portuguese, German, Italian, and Swedish Scouts and Guides also staying with us at the moment. Yesterday a great International Evening and BBQ took place, with more than a 800 hundreds guests participating and experinecing different parts of the world thanks to organised dances, stands, food and drinks and Scouting items. Wonderful.

Be part of it!

Luisa Fontanazza (IT)
PR & Marketing Assistant

 

 

 

 

17.08.2010