Trips Away
Every year, CUSAGC organises a number of trips (each with its own acronym); we try to organise something in each holiday. In addition, members of CUSAGC go to many large and small Scout/Guide camps, either as service team (as at the Jamborees) or as participants. Everything that you need to know (that we know)about our next trip is on the Forthcoming Trips page. Also, don't forget Rally!
Winter Trip/CTW
CTW is a week away over the New Year period in a bunk house (so you can enjoy the snowy weather), somewhere hilly in the UK. If you can't make the full week, it doesn't matter - you'll still be welcome. Usually a number of different walks are organised at levels to cater for everyone, as well as trips to local attractions. The evenings are spent cooking (everyone lends a hand), socialising and playing games - and then there's New Year's Eve. There's something for everyone, whether you're a keen mountaineer, gentle hillwalker, fan of tea shops, or just enjoy the company of fellow CUSAGCers.
As with most CUSAGC events, CTW isn't designed to make a profit so usually costs £12-15 per person per night, including accomodation, food, equipment (you might feel like borrowing a CUSAGC ice axe...) and transport during the trip. The only other costs are your transport to and from CTW (often people will share lifts to reduce this) and any activities/visits qhich charge an extra fee.
Just don't ask what CTW stands for - even back in the '50s when CUSAGC as we now know it emerged from The Cambridge Rover Scout Crew and Girton Guides, they weren't entirely sure of what it meant! General consensus currently is that it means "Crew Training Week" or "Christmas Training Week".
Past CTWs:
- 2011-12: Peak District (Dark Peak - Fulwood)
- 2010-11: Peak District (Dark Peak - Abney)
- 2009-10: Brecon Beacons
- 2008-09: Peak District (White Peak)
- 2007-08: Lake District
Trip Over Easter or TOE
TOE is whatever CUSAGCers want it to be - in tents, bunk houses or youth hostels; hiking, cycling, kayaking, expeditions, climbing or seeing the sights (or a combination of all of these). Usually the AAC emails everyone early Lent term to judge interest and find out where people want to go and what they want to do.
Past TOEs:
- 2013: Narrowboating in the Fens
- 2012: Narrowboating in the Fens
- 2010: South Downs
- 2008: Snowdonia
- 2007: Lake District
- 2006: Yorkshire Dales
The Great Escape
The worst thing about Cambridge is the e***s in the Easter Term, so to celebrate their completion (or simply help forget about them), CUSAGC likes to go away for a weekend - the 7th weekend of the term (the weekend before May Bumps, and a week before Garden Party, Punt Joust and May Week). Whether this is feasible depends on whether there is anybody with enough time in Easter term to organise it (can be tricky)... and whether enough CUSAGCers are finished in time to make it worthwhile! (Those left behind tend to moan...) When it's able to go ahead, it's a nice relaxing weekend of camping, often to the coast, with onsite activities (past years have seen kayaking and raft building), gentle strolls and a trip to the beach whenever possible - to show kids how sancastles should be built. Other years it coincides nicely with Cambridge District Cub Camp, and we can all go along to lend a hand.
The Summer
We tend to try ang go away in the summer too - although the vacation is so long it can be a little hard to decide when let alone where to go! Many CUSAGCers will go away with their own groups for their summer camp, whilst the AAC quite often organises a trip away. The format of this varies according to popular demand; in the last few years we've seen walking in the Lake District (2012), a multi-activity holiday in Northumbria and an expedition up the West Highland Way.
If there is sufficient demand, CUSAGC escapes the UK for an international expedition. 2006 saw CUSAGC head to Germany and the Czech Republic, and in 2007 we headed to Central Norway to go walking in the Rondane (see picture) and the Jotunheim National Parks. The downside to these is, of course, the cost and amount of organisation required, but this can easily be overcome, and literally anything is possible!
Jamborees and Large Camps
Several CUSAGCers were involved in the service teams of the 2003 and 2007 World Scout Jamborees (Thailand and Essex respectively), and 2011 (Sweden) will see one of our members visiting with the participants. In addition to these, other international camps and jamborees also take place, and occasionally CUSACGers attend these. Together with Cambridge Ventures (Network), CUSAGCers can also visit the big Network camps and we are often invited to help staff large camps in and around the county, such as the Cambridgeshire County Scout and Guide camps in september. Our contacts within County (particularly Scouting) mean that it is often possible for CUSAGCers to become involved when opportunities arise - just ask the SAGLO (Scout and Guide Liaison Officer, saglo [at] cusagc.org.uk) if you're interested.
Additional info
Membership: To come on any adventurous activitiy, you must be a paid-up member of CUSAGC, to cover insurance requirements. Membership forms are available from the secretary.
Health Forms: Health Forms contain essential information should you become ill or injured. You must carry one with you at all times when on hikes or other adventurous activities (we will tell you when you need one). A health form must also be submitted to the AAC before each trip or adventurous activity. This must be signed and dated, and will be kept for 1 year after the trip ends. All forms remain confidential, though you may place the form in an envelope for extra security, providing important details are on the outside. You must submit a new form for each trip, and are responsible for keeping the one in your rucksack up to date.
Adults Groups in Adventurous Activities: As affiliated members of the Scout Association (via SSAGO), we follow the rules for adventurous activities set down in the Policy, Organisation and Rules of the Association. At the beginning of every trip you will be required to sign a declaration similar to this one: "I am aware that the above named adventurous activities contains hazards which may present me with the risk of personal injury. I have read and understand The Scout Association's factsheet Adult Groups in Adventurous Activities. I undertake to carry an up to date Health form and Emergency Card on all walks."
NB As SSAGO (and therefore CUSAGC) are affiliated with both Scouting and Guiding (although the insurance is with Scout Insurance Services/Unity), the 'lowest common denominator' approach is used, particularly for banned activities (which therefore include bunjee jumping, paintballing, lazerquest etc.). CUSAGC must therefore follow this policy, which also means no groups of 'just friends who happen to be in CUSAGC' can do these either! Our insurance covers our members for organised Scout Network events, and vice versa, as well as our own. More details are on the resources page of the (SSAGO website, or the AAC or SSAGO rep can answer any queries.