Network Scout Supplement

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Network view
The Network Decathlon
and tent-pitching challenge
are just around the corner

Join the royal family
Queen’s Scouts share their experiences of the award

Campdowne 2008
How Network members can help out at this exciting camp

A Scouting kind of magic
Find out about the Queen’s Scout Working Party

Travel notes from Peru
Network members and Explorer Scouts tell us about their amazing trip to a fascinating country

Cycle the great outdoors
Get on your bike and take in the breathtaking Welsh scenery with our new series

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Travel notes from Peru

After months of fundraising and preparation, 40 Explorer Scouts and Scout Network members from West Yorkshire found themselves in Peru for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, writes Lucy Tallis, Rachael Kelly and Robert Quinn

The Scouts were split into two groups, with different itineraries. The first group, known as the community group, would travel to a children’s refuge to work on a community project, while the second group, known as the trekking group, would travel to Cusco and explore the Inca trail. Each group kept a diary of their experiences. Here are some of the highlights…

Community group

Monday 24 July: We had been warned that the accommodation we were meant to be staying in wasn’t complete. When the gates opened and we pulled into the refuge, it looked like a building site. How could children be living here? Then, out of nowhere, we were mobbed by smiley children, seemingly just excited and grateful that we’d come to visit.

Tuesday 25 July: After breakfast, a team went to the market to get basic supplies for painting and the various other tasks we aimed to complete over the week. When they arrived back we worked out who was doing what.
In the evening, Peruvian Scout uniforms were handed out to every child; prior to the visit the Scout County of West Yorkshire had raised a considerable sum for the refuge and they had been inspired to form their own Scout Group. We had decided to sponsor the Scout Group by buying each member a Peruvian Scout uniform.

Friday 28 July: Peruvian Independence Day – when Scouts and schools from all over Peru parade through their local towns. It was so lovely, seeing all the refuge children in their full Scout uniform.

Trekking group

Tuesday 25 July: Our first day of trekking, we went up to a viewpoint above Cusco, near a huge white statue of Christ. Edwin, our guide, told us it was a replica of the one that stands above Rio de Janeiro.
After stopping off at a small roadside market, we reached a dead end where we disembarked and walked for 45 minutes to the ruins of the Temple of the Condor. The architecture was incredible; the temple had been built from pink granite, which is only found on the other side of the mountain!

Friday 28 July: A two-hour bus ride took us to a town called Chilea. After crossing a very wobbly rope bridge, we headed uphill before reaching the ruins of Llactapata. From there we walked on and got to the campsite around 3pm.
We were shocked to see all our tents up and ready for us. We ditched our bags and went to play football against the guides and the porters. We lost 2-1. Then we had tea and went out for a rematch. As light faded, they slipped in the winner for 3-2 – a good day for Peruvian football.
Sunday 30 July: The mountains were shrouded in mist, which was probably a good thing as it disguised the task ahead.
After the second mountain pass, we carried on down the steps very quickly. The faster ones in the group got ahead and went up to a large Incan fortress. To get there, we had to go up the steepest set of steps we had come across, but the views from the top were well worth the climb.
After dinner there was a ceremony where speeches were made, tips were handed over and songs were sung. We went to bed knowing that in five more hours’ walking time we would be at the Inca sanctuary of Machu Picchu!

Back together again

It was at the top of Machu Picchu that the community and trekking groups were reunited. We celebrated with our first full contingent flag break in the grounds of the magnificent Inca ruins. We even got the chance to get acquainted with the local llamas that graze freely in the ruins.
During the days we spent in Peru, we saw so many different sights and made such good friends. Now we are left with fond memories and photographs from that magnificent experience, which we will treasure for the rest of our lives.