Paris 2024 – 62nd Bristol Scout Group


	2nd Alveston Scout Group 62nd Bristol Scout Group
	Wednesday 31st July to Wednesday 7th August 2024

From the creators of the BIG trip to the London Olympics in 2012 and the Netherlands in 2017 and numerous other far flung destinations, we bring you, our latest stonking adventure!

We have tickets to the Olympics in Paris 2024! Join us for a once in a lifetime Scouting trip! It’ll be like no other you’ve ever done!

Check out the 62nd Facebook page for lovely piccies and snippets of the daily fun!

Scroll down for photo page links and reports.

We’ll try and post photos and write ups here. Always worth revisiting pages, more maybe added.

Wednesday 31st July

Travel

Thursday 1st August

Hockey day

Friday 2nd August

Water Polo day

Saturday 3rd August

Concorde Urban Project, Canoe Slalom day and Paris sightseeing day

Sunday 4th August

Concorde Urban Project and Paris sightseeing day

Monday 5th August

Athletic day

Tuesday 6th August

Wrestling and quarter final Water Polo day

Wednesday 7th August

Travel home

A fantastic report written by one of the youngest Scouts:

If I could sum up my experience in Paris with Scouts in one word it would be EXHILARATING.

The waterpolo was amazing as we had a good view and the ball moved so fast between players. I liked the long Mexican Wave during the hockey game and I never expected to meet actual Olympians! Meeting the GB Hockey Goalie, Ollie Payne, outside the stadium was great – he was so friendly. And what’s more, we got to see a British Gold Medallist Rower just outside the Louvre.

We had an amazing view of the athletics arena – it was fun watching the hurdles and the pole vault. It was also funny watching the little discus cars having a race!

I had never been to Paris before so the sightseeing was brilliant as I got to see all the famous landmarks, like the Eiffel Tower, The Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre and Cleopatra’s Needle.

The journey was very long but it was worth every second. Merci to all the Scout Leaders!

Posted on Facebook on the way home by one of the leaders:

This last week, in Paris, has been the most enormous challenge for absolutely everyone involved. Every single person who has been with us on this trip has been beyond amazing. Every single one.

A few thoughts:

Scouts: we threw a huge, huge amount of responsibility your way. There was debate if you would keep up. You took that, screwed it up and threw it back with raspberries on. Every single leader came back from Paris singing your praise.

Let’s be honest, so many of you are fresh out of Cubs. Some, you’ve not even had your first day in Year 6 yet! What an achievement! Well done and from us as leaders, thank you for making it fun and so enjoyable for us and considerably less stressful. I think, you were an absolute pleased to share a week in Paris with. I reckon the other leaders would agree with me.

please, show some love and appreciation to our coach driver! He’s got us there everytime, on time and kept sane throughout. During one of the busiest times in Parisian history too.

the leaders: the planning took longer than the length of the trip itself. Highly complex travel arrangements which changed constantly through the week. Medical organisation with Scouts out left right and centre. Keeping everyone safe during the busy Paris transport system. Organising a fantatsic menu, when so many groups are spread across Paris at the same time. Designing t-shirts which not only looked smart, they stood out on train stations (and tv!). Being able to speak in French and save a few awkward moments! Working solidly in the background to ensure it all ran smoothly. Putting up with an 8am leave camp with all canvas down and onto van…

Explorers: you knew it was essentially a Scout camp but as valued members or ex-members of 62nd and 2nd Alveston, we were keen you would be able to share this trip with us. You also have helped amazingly to reduce the pressure on leaders. Thank you.

everyone has mixed so well this week. Young, old it didn’t appear to matter from where I was standing.

congratulations to the Scouts that were invested outside the Louvre. And also, Evie and Joe – awarded SPL badges.

Dan S: I apologise, I said it was too difficult. But, thank you for that random comment on that train 2 years ago!!! I doff my cap!!!

Paris 2024 travellers: enjoy your memories of an overwhelmingly brilliant week.

I cannot wait to properly trawl through all the great photos.

(…and this lengthy post has got me through most of some goodness awful Sonic film… yes!!!)

Accommodation

Camping in the grounds of a French Chateau. A Scout campsite in the northern part of France.

Travel

By coach, ferry across to France and public transport, whilst in Paris.

Cost

£750

Includes: Olympic tickets, transport, meals, accommodation, other activities, trip t-shirt, UK necker

Not included: pocket money, ice-creams, souvenirs

Eligibility

any current Cub or Scout who will be between the ages of 10 and 14 on 31^st July 2024
priority will be given to Cubs and Scouts of 2^nd Alveston and 62^nd Bristol Scout Groups
any ex-Scout of 2^nd Alveston and 62^nd Bristol, who MUST still be in Scouting at time of travel, and also under 18. This may be as a Young Leader or Explorer.
if you will be 18+ at time if travel, please get in touch.

Trip T-shirt and Necker

A uniquely designed trip t-shirt and UK necker will be provided. (Young looking handsome leader, not included).

Olympics!

Don’t expect the 100m final – of course! However, we currently have a couple of different sports and it is looking like you will visit at least 2 events. They will be allocated as fairly as we can. Tickets have been limited and hard to get – we’ve done pretty well, considering!

We found in London 2012, the atmosphere at each event was quite something! A unique and special experience! Examples of events were: women’s volleyball 9am on a Sunday morning with Algeria vs. Russia. Hockey: another 9am start with the men, Australia vs. Argentina and Netherlands vs. New Zealand… In other words… we see what we get, when we get it!

Paris!

We will discover the best of Paris, that we can afford and get into with massive Olympic crowds! However, rest assured I’m sure the official Olympic planning team will make sure Paris is looking stunning, with plenty of special events.

Previous BIG adventures…

…scroll to the year pages: Goto <Scouts><Archive> and see if the photos still exist!