Camp - Marmarik

It's been over a week since our last entry, but that doesn't mean we haven't been fully occupied. We've been camping with NUGGGS at Marmarik, just over an hour's journey from Yerevan. It's been an busy, tiring and fantastic week, though we're all pleased to be back in the hostel for a well needed shower! Here's a brief summary!


Day 1 - arrival day - Saturday
What a busy day! Lilit's Mum and Dad kindly picked all our baggage up from the hostel for us and we walked to meet the bus. After about an hour on the bus we arrived at a very steep hilled site and most of us were wondering where the tents would go! At the top of the hill was tent pitching space, so we helped erect the many tents for approximately 80 people to sleep in. We were so excited to begin the week's camp! Rachael particularly enjoying the evening meal- which included lots of mashed potato, salad and vegetables. We were delighted by the campfire, and sang guiding songs well into the night. 'Sharks' became a particular favourite with the younger participants on camp.

Day 2 - Sunday
The first day of early morning 'camp exercises'. Thankfully this only involved a short run and some aerobics moves, which we were all very relieved about! Excersises were followed by the opening ceremony and flag break which was the formal start to camp, and it was great to see all the Guides and guys together at the same time. Since Sunday we've had a flag ceremony every morning. Jess and Rachael then lead a training session about tents, how to put them up, where they should go up and how to look after them.

This was a great success as each team was timed to see who could put the tent up  the quickest and in the best condition. Sunday afternoon involved a energy draining wood collecting session- energy draining because of the gradient of hills around the campsite! We had great fun though, and the views from the top of our hill are really fantastic. The day finished with team races, we all had great fun messing around and trying not to fall over on the hill!!

Day 3 - Monday
All participants on the camp site were split into four teams at the start of camp, and as

the GOLD team we're split between them. Monday was a dedicated team craft day, so we split off into our teams to create objects to reflect our different team names (which include the 'Minions', from the film 'Despicable Me, the Bees, Urish (other) and Phoenix). Just after lunch we we showcased our crafts, most of which were made using

natural materials such as wood and stone. Having brought our big resources bag with us to camp we decided to make sitters with the rest of the camp participants, which weren't quite as fab as we'd hoped but still perfectly good sit on while eating dinner! We also made friendship bracelets and little boxes made out of card.


Day 4 - Tuesday

The sun is shining again, Laura woke up saying 'who turned on the lights!'. Tika, one of the NUGGGS leaders lead a 1st aid training in the shade. After lunch the members of a youth history group gave us a talk about Armenian history, Lilit translated for us again! Emma T, Jess and Laura joined in with an Armenian volley ball game in the afternoon with most of the camp. By the end I think we managed to pick up the rules. After a little time to catch our breath, Agnes taught us all some traditional

Armenian dancing. Agnes thought we were that great, she wanted us to come to one of he dances with her, but unfortunately we will be back in the UK. When the sun went down the flood light was turned on and we decided to make 'GOLD' using the shadow!

Day 5 - Wednesday
Today we had to get moving quickly, breakfast was slightly earlier ready for a hike to a very old traditional Armenian church. It started off with a gentle walk along the roadside and then we entered a forest. We were all slightly confused about where the Church was. Tika told us that the Church is up the top of the hill (extremely steep hill!) to keep the enemies away, as they wouldn't find it at the top. The Church was very different to ones we had visited before, much darker and cooler, but a welcomed break from the heat. We

were told that if you threw a stone into a small hole much higher up, all your dreams would come true. We all tried, however it seems Emma T was the only one of us with the knack! Back outside we played lots of games with the Guides and guys on camp. Everyone enjoyed these and many giggles were heard. The team managed the hill down, some with a little help from others! Then a relaxed walk back along the river with a gentle breeze.
Back on the campsite later in the day we got into our teams and had to come up with a performance including a traditional Armenian story to perform tomorrow.

Day 6 - Thursday - traditional British weather!
This morning we woke to rain, and lots of rain all morning! We all felt like we were at

home! Lucky the site has a part built house that we are using to cook in and we used the upstairs rooms as shelter from the rain! The NUGGGS leaders ran a compass reading session in a tightly squeezed room! But as girl guides do, we all coped! Once the rain stopped it was time for a quick practise of our group performance and then show time. We all took part with our groups and had a small talking part. There were several highlights- the Granny costume that Emma G was made to wear and

the full A4 page of Armenian text that Rachael was asked to read out! Laura's Mum sent us all hand puppets to make, so when the sun came out we sat outside and made them, Thank you Laura's Mum. The younger members on camp enjoyed helping us put them together and we gave some of them away to them. Later in the evening Emma G taught the camp some Scottish dancing, we had lots of giggles trying to get the steps right!

Day 7 - Friday
Our last full day at camp :(
The week has flown by, so it was a shock that Friday was our last full day of activities on camp. In the morning we were split into two teams to play volleyball- water balloon

volleyball! Most of the team stayed fairly dry apart from Rachael who took a water balloon for the team! Most of the afternoon was taken up with the closing ceremony; each team had practiced both a song and a dance, so performed it in front of the rest of the camp. Post performances we lined up around the flag for the final thank yous, and we were thrilled with the unexpected gifts that NUGGGS had

Look we're flying!

purchased for us - an "I love Armenia" t-shirt, a NUGGGS badge, an Armenia flag badge and a NUGGGS pen. All the gifts were a huge hit with the team and as you can see we love wearing our new t-shirts! Thank you so much NUGGGS. All the participants were also given a certificate to mark their participation in the camp and we were also presented with one specially translated into English which was really special for all of us. Thank you again NUGGGS. The closing ceremony concluded with each

stand by me... stay stay stay..

team lighting a Chinese lantern, which was a great final team activity and watching the lanterns floating into the night sky and stars was really beautiful. 2013 is also the 15th birthday of NUGGGS so we celebrated by singing "Happy birthday" and eating a very yummy homemade birthday cake. On our final night at camp we were determined to make the most of the campfire so enjoyed sitting and singing campfire songs well into the night. 
The GOLD Team made up a thank you song to the tune 'Hey Jude', which we sang to the whole camp, it went down really well!!

Day 8 - Saturday
Today was the very last day of camp, we woke early to get a head start with packing and

making sure the tent was dry and ready to come down. We had brunch around 10, to set us up for the rest of the day. We all helped take down the tents and pack up camp. After loading the coach, we all got on board for the journey back to Yerevan. Most of us slept and missed the several stops on the way back. Hostel bound in taxi's none of us to wait long to use the toilet (that flushes!) and have a nice long shower to get rid of all the camp grime.

There was a campfire every night on camp, that we got very excited about. We sang UK guiding songs, and they sang some traditional songs to us. Lilit bought marshmallows with her, so we enjoyed toasted them on sticks one night. Rachael provided the biscuits to make s'mores. Very yummy. Camp food was great, it was amazing how they could cook so much food on one burner for lots of people!

We all had a fab time at camp and cannot thank NUGGGS enough for organising and letting us join them. We have made so many new friends and have lots of memories to take away with us.

Thanks for the T-Shirts we love them!

Shnorhakalut'yun NUGGGS isk bari gisher amen meky!

(Thank you NUGGGS and goodnight everyone!)