Latest News from Belchamps

Fireworks night (09/11/2010)

What a fantastic night it was on Saturday, surely the most succesfull display ever in the 26 year history of Belchamps Firework displays,

A fantastic 25 minute display, the biggest fire ever, a massive crowd, tight security and some brilliant stalls and catering.

NEW Shop and Office (18/12/2009)

The shop and the office have been completely refurbished

Coop gets new kitchen (02/07/2010)

The coop is having the kitchen re-fitted

Tented Village (02/07/2010)

The new tented vilage is up and running

Belchamps Winter Special offers (15/11/2010)

Belchamps has a number of last minute booking offers on buildings and evening activities between now and December 19th 2010.

BEAVER SLEEPOVER IS ON (30/11/2010)

It's stopped snowing here this morning and the car park is now accesible.

Paths to all activities are clear and also between buildings.

The heating is on the buildings and it should be lovely and warm for tonight.

Further snow fell last last night, but again the main roads are clear in the area and deliveries have been into the site as normal today.

Beaver sleepover IS still on.

This will be a fantastic lasting memory for the Beavers, they will talking about the sleepover the did in the snow for years to come.

The programme has been changed to ensure the Beavers will stay warm.

On arrival, the games will take place in the sports hall, they will then go down to the dining room and sit around a warm log fire for campfire songs. Hot chocolate and hot dogs will warm them up before bed.

The dormatories will be heated.

Saturdays program will be mostly indoors, the Beavers will be outside for no more than 1/2 hour at a time.

We are currently working on access into the site, today vehicles are able to drive in OK, but the car park is quite deep with snow. We plan to reasses this tommorow morning (Friday) and hopefully clear and grit an area for parking. We have further contingency if the car park is unaccessible for vehicles. On foot it is no problem. If you are having beavers dropped off by parents and expect a lot of cars, it may be advisable to arrange to park on the roads coming into Belchamps and walk the last bit.

Further updates will be posted on this news item on Friday morning.

The Beavers will have a fantastic time, and the programme will not be affected in any way by the weather.

The main roads leading into Hawkwell village are now clear of snow, and the side roads leading up to the site are passable. Work will be carried out on Friday to clear the car park and paths around the activites. The forecast for the weekend is sunny intervals.

This weekends Beaver Sleepover WILL GO AHEAD whatever the weather.

We currently have 4 inches of snow here at Belchamps, but we have contingency plans to move all activities in doors if we need to.

Heating in the dormatories will go on early on Friday to ensure they are warm for your arrival, and campfire will be in the lower hall around a log fire.

Should there still be snow at the weekend, we expect it to add to the atmosphere and be a wonderful experience for the Beavers.

Should you choose not to come due to the weather please note our cancellation policy for events, published on the december sleepover page in the events area of this website.

Rifle and archery club 1st December (01/12/2010)

We are sorry but please note Rifle and Archery club are both closed tonight Weds 1st December due to the extreme cold conditions.

We hope to be back next week, keep an eye on this website for more news or call 01702562690 on the day for an update.

Thanks Trevor and Adam.

PLEASE NOTE BEAVER SLEEPOVER IS STILL GOING AHEAD THOUGH AND PREPERATIONS ARE IN PROGRESS TO ENSURE THE EVENT IS NOT HAMPERED BY THE WEATHER AT ALL.

New Hutch and Den (15/07/2009)

New bunk rooms and dining room added to the hutch building.

Work weekend at Belchamps (02/04/2010)

Belchamps work weekend Sat 17th and Sunday 18th April

New Deck for Hutch (01/07/2010)

The hutch now has a new deck to link the main building with the dining room.

Belchamps newsletters - back issues (05/01/2010)

Click on the date links below to veiw copies of the belchamps news.

New staff (07/08/2010)

Facilities team is developing

Ways to make some money for your group (07/08/2010)

Ways to fundraise with Belchamps

Exclusive to Owner scout Districts

Ways to fundraise with Belchamps

Exclusive to Owner Scout Districts

Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge (09/10/2010)

Belchamps Scout Centre has been awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality badge and adventuremark.

Following a stringent inspection of our facilites, policy and proceedure and delivery of service, we have been awarded this recognition of the safety and quality of our services.

For more information on the Quality badge visit www.Lotcqualitybadge.org.uk

Belchamps increases the qualification of instructors (13/10/2010)

Mike and Oli start SPA training

New staff (13/10/2010)

New staffing structure and new staff at Belchamps

Christmas opening times (15/10/2010)

Christmas Opening times

We close for Christmas at 5pm on Monday 20th December and reopen at 9am on Thursday 6th January.

75th anniversary camp plans well under way (06/08/2010)

The 75th anniversary camp plans are now well under way. visit the 75 year anniversary camp page in the events section

If you would like to help with the event in any way please e-mail centremanager@belchamps.co.uk

Reception now open 9am till 5pm daily except Tuesdays (02/04/2010)

As of 1st April, Belchamps reception is now open 9am till 5pm every day except Tuesdays.

It is also open till 8pm on Fridays

Winter camp (21/01/2011)

The build up to winter camp is in full swing now.

PHC bathrooms (02/04/2010)

PHC refurb

Sports hall heater (02/04/2010)

Sport hall gets a new heater

Beaver sleepover -what a great event! (06/12/2010)

Beaver Sleepover weet ahead despite the snow, and what a great time the Beavers had.

Christmas closing (20/12/2010)

The Centre, Shop and Reception is closed for Christmas From 5pm Monday 20th December until 9am Thursday 6th January 2011

We wish everyone a happy christmas and an active and adventerous New Year.

Winter Camp is muddy (12/02/2011)

Whatever Gilwell Can do we can do better?

It may have been muddy at Gilwells winter camp and it's certainly muddy here, with rain for the latter part of the week the clay surface here has become a layer of mud!

The Landrover has been busy with trailer services to sites, and the ocasional car to pull out of the mud.

The attmosphere is still as good as ever with over 30 activities to choose from, and the Scouting Skills arena to open this afternoon, and yes Squirrel is on the menu again today!

The Cafe has been as efficient as ever, serving quality breakfast this morning, with a cheery smile as always. Thanks again to Harlow district for their fantastic meal deal service.

Spider Mountain, seems to have the only queue, with everyone wanting to climb to the top for the drop slide. Everywhere else, queues are just 1 or 2 people, with so many activiites to choose from, its action all day

Winer Camp Update (12/02/2011)

The Sun is finally Shining

Scouting Skills is about to start and there is already a big crowd around the Squirrel cooking. There is a pile of squirrells and rabits about to be prepared and cooked.

Also the ATC are here with a survival skills demo about to start

There are cooking bases, woggle making , knotting, fire lighting and axe and saw workshops.

Winer Camp Update (18/03/2011)

The sun is finnally shining!

The Scouting Skills arena is just warming up, Their are plenty of Squirrels, Pigeon and rabbit about to be prepared and cooked, and the corowd is already gathering. I think spide Mountain will get beaten this afternoon as this already looks like being the most popular activity and it doesn't even start for another 5 minutes.

The ATC are also here with a survival skills demonstration plus plenty of cooking bases, knive and axe training, fire lighting and woggle making bases.

Belchamps Winter camp really does have the biggest variety of activities.

More updates soon and photos coming soon too.

Southend West Badge Secretary (11/03/2011)

Belchamps to stock badges

the recent beaver sleepovers (18/03/2011)

Thank you to all the groups who took part in the recent beaver sleepovers.

The two sleepovers went well, with beavers enjoying games on the field, a torch lit campsite walk and a fun campfire on Friday and Saturday evening before a hot dog and bed.

During the day there were 10 activities altogther for the beavers to try - crawling through the caving simulator, balancing and climbing through the obstacles on the assault course, cooking up chocolate cake in Vincent Lodge, shooting arrows in the archery range. Firing suckers darts at targets using mini cross bows, getting kitted up to try fencing in the upper hall, learning about fire lighting and cooking marshmallows on an altar fire, completing on the bungee run and pole joust, firing water rockets on the main field and, last but not least testing their climbing skills on the traversing wall.

a selection of photos coming soon

Vincent Lodge gets a re decorate (07/05/2011)

Vincent Lodge has recently been re-decorated and has new bunks, matresses and carpets.

Thursday 12th May (11/05/2011)

PLEASE NOTE DUE TO ELECTRICITY SUPPLY WORK COMING INTO THE CAMPSITE THE POWER WILL BE DOWN FROM 8AM till APROX 12NOON

WE WILL BE UNABLE TO TAKE ANY PHONE CALLS OR RESPOND TO ANY E_MAILS DURING THIS PERIOD

APPOLOGIES FOR THE INCONVEINCE

Tented Village (23/07/2011)

For May 2012 the tented village will be fully upgraded to include :

75th anniversary camp arial photo (25/07/2011)

The campsite form above on the sunday

Meeting Point (02/09/2011)

New for the Autumn, a helping hand on evening visits to Belchamps

Activities Team Autumn Work (15/11/2011)

The new activities team is busy smartening up and fixing lots of areas around the activities areas. Led by Chief instructor Dan, Abbie, Andy, Adam, Jon and Vojtech are working hard on improving the quality of our activities.

New Activities for 2012 (03/02/2012)

New activities for 2012 -

Wobbly Pole, Cork Guns, Ladder Challenge, Geocaching

SNOW UPDATE - 05/02/12 (05/02/2012)

Parents - We are advising all leaders to walk their groups to the main road for picking up, so please park by the main road and walk into the site.

Please keep an eye on this page and on the 'Belchamps Scout Centre' Facebook page for updates throughout the day.

Reception has new opening times (09/01/2012)

Belchamps Reception is now open 7 days a week