Hundreds of Wrexham Scouts take part in giant ‘stay at home sleepover’

Hundreds of young people across Wrexham went on a camping trip with a difference last weekend.

Wrexham Scouts proved that not being allowed to leave their homes wouldn’t stop their fun by holding the first ever ’Stay Home Sleepover’.

They were challenged by their leaders to abandon their bedrooms on Saturday night and either camp in their gardens, hang a hammock in their halls or build a den in their dining rooms.

Moz Morris from Wrexham Scouts said: “We stopped all face to face activities the moment the Prime Minister advised against all non essential social gatherings, but soon after we started planning ways in which we could continue activities, with our members doing the activities at home.

“With schools closed and activities outside their homes severely restricted, we wanted a big event to give the Scouts something to look forward to and take their minds off what can be a worrying time for them.”

The Scouts where kept busy packing their bags, making their own food, and with online activities such as a virtual campfire sing along via Zoom, a scavenger hunt around their houses and morning exercises to wake everyone up.

Jennie Rodenhurst from Wrexham, mum of eight-year-old Joe Brummell said: “Joe loved every minute and didn’t want to take the den down this morning! All of his teddies were invited and he loved seeing his friends Beaver friends on Zoom!”

Each Scout who took part will of course be getting a special badge, and there will also be badges for sale with proceeds going to buy medical equipment for the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Moz added: “We were amazed by how many got involved – the parents have been just brilliant and I think they really value our activities.

“The photos sent in of kids putting up tents, building dens and cooking their tea were fantastic. Almost every Scout group in Wrexham took part and we had around 300 people taking part in the Zoom campfire.

“The event was just a small part of the activities we’re putting on. Within days of the government announcement The Scouts had released a resource called The Great Indoors with 100 activities they could get stuck into which continue to prepare our members with skills for life.

“I’m so proud of the way the Leaders have been quickly learning new skills themselves such as doing Facebook lives instead of their normal meetings.

“One huge positive I think that will come from this is that parents will have seen first hand how valuable the activities we put on are, and how much fun they will have had helping with them.

“We really hope more of them will want to continue helping when we start back, but at the local Scout hut rather than at home.”