2025 Christmas update from the Oaks Chair
As we come to the end of 2025, it’s time to reflect on what has been another busy year for the campsite and to thank our fantastic volunteers who freely give their time to make the campsite what it is, a place of fun, tranquillity, opportunity, challenge and safe for our young people.
We started the New Year with our annual walk. The walkers braved the cold, ice and snow to enjoy the stunning scenery the weather had created. No matter what time of year, the Charnwood countryside provides some glorious views.
February saw our Rise and Shine day, where volunteers and a few scouts joined together to get the site ready for the new camping season.
The Spring and Summer months were very busy, with both buildings booked out most weekends, and campers out on the main field. Some weekends we’ve had 300 campers on site with us. It’s to the credit of our willing volunteers that we managed to fulfil most bookings, including those made for mid-week evening visits. We were pleased to welcome several groups from further afield, who chose to camp us for their annual week-long summer camps. It seems that the word is spreading far and wide that the Oaks is a great place to camp. All of the activities have been well booked, with the Jungle Trail proving very popular on summer evenings.
Over the summer, we hosted the Loughborough District Camp, the Charnwood Districts Soap Box Derby and Squirrel Fun Day. All were great successes.
October saw a new event, with our Fun Day, where all sections were able to book sessions and try activities. It proved a success, with lots of young people having the opportunity to try something new. Hopefully, this will become a regular event in the future.
Volunteers have been busy, creating a couple of new activities on site. We now offer a designated Squirrel activity area and a backwoods/fire lighting area for older sections. Unfortunately, heavy use on the zorb footballs has taken its toll, and they didn’t last the season. However, we are looking at replacing them in time for the new season, as they have proved a fun and popular activity.
Over the year, our volunteers have been busy, doing the regular maintenance tasks needed to keep the site at its best and running the shop to keep our campers stocked with their goodies. The main field has been regularly mowed, vegetation pruned, trees trimmed, ditches cleared, fences and decking painted etc. There is a never-ending list of jobs that need doing, so we welcome any support offered.
This year we’ve heavily invested in safeguarding and improving our buildings for the future. The roof on the ladies toilets has been overhauled, the roof on the gents toilets/office/Ram Raid has been stripped and recovered, the outside of the Black Hole has been redecorated, all the electrics have been tested and upgraded and as I write, we are completing a refurbishment to the ladies toilets block, which will become the gents for the new season. We now have 10 new picnic benches, which were purchased with aid of a grant from the East Midlands Airport Community Fund.
Several of our volunteers received national awards for their services to scouting. Many of our volunteers have group or other local roles, in addition to the campsite role. They are true dedicated scouters. Weekend wardens Danielle was awarded Bar to the Award for Merit and Alex was awarded Chief Scout’s Commendation for Good Service. Activity instructors Joe and Andy were awarded Award for Merit. Shop volunteer Rachel was awarded Bar to Award for Merit. We must also give special recognition to weekend warden Paul for receiving Award for Meritorious Conduct, for his actions taken in 2023, when a camper was unfortunately taken ill on site. You should all be extremely proud of these awards.
The Monday Maintenance Team have been busy, doing maintenance and jobs around the site. They’re a friendly bunch and would welcome new members. If anyone has a couple of hours to fill on a Monday morning, and enjoys coffee and cake, then spread the word and join them. No skills needed, just a willingness to join in.
We’re already looking at plans for 2026 and beyond, the main aims being to maintain and improve where possible, to ensure the site and its activities remain safe, exciting, fun, challenging and suitable for young people. However, all will need time and additional people if we are to progress everything planned. Could I ask you all to spread the word, sell the site and let us know of any interests, so we can follow up. The campsite can’t operate without volunteers.
Finally, to all those of you that have or continue to give your time and support to the campsite, a big thank you, the campsite doesn’t function without this.
I hope you and your families have a great Christmas and New Year, and hopefully some of you may join us for our 2026 annual walk, 11am, Sunday 4th January 2026.
Phil