April 2010 - The Boys' Brigade

2009 INTERNATIONAL CAMP
Twelve members of The Boys’
and Girls’ Brigade of Neenah-
Menasha were chosen to
represent the Brigade overseas in
Scotland, for its 2009 International
Camp. The group spent months
fundraising to make enough
money for the trip.
From Chicago O’Hare International
Airport, they were off on their adventure,
to make lifelong friendships, and to
make memories that would last a lifetime.
Dinner that night
was a traditional
fare of Haggis,
Neaps and Tatties
– a new delicacy
for many of
the Americans!
Friday the 26th of June 2009 – the
Americans received a warm welcome
from the 1st Bearsden Company Pipe
Band, along with many familiar faces from
previous exchanges. The visitors went with
their host families, somewhat jet-lagged!
Four days were spent under canvas at
Glenlyon. The Americans saw scenery
they had never seen before as they
wound through tiny mountain roads with
breathtaking views, grass as green as
a Crayolo crayon and sheep, who lived
merely feet away!
They paraded to the local church for
Sunday morning service at Innerwick.
The Campers enjoyed onsite physical
activities and challenges and the evening
walk around Glenlyon. There were trips to
Pitlochry fish ladder, sampling local fish
and chips (a definite favourite with the
Americans), sightseeing and shopping,
the Killiecrankie visitor centre, the
Soldier’s Leap and the Queen’s View.
One day the camp held its own
Highland Games, which included
tossing the caber and the ‘welly’ – it
was definitely a fun experience for
the American visitors! The campers
journeyed to the Scottish Crannog
Centre and saw the Fortingall Yew Tree
(apparently the oldest living thing on
earth!) Dinner that night was a traditional
fare of Haggis, Neaps and Tatties – a
new delicacy for many of the Americans!
This was followed by a campfire and
camp concert.
By 12.30pm on Wednesday camp was
struck and the group headed north for
Inverness to stay in a youth hostel for
three more nights. A tour guide, dressed
in kilt, took the group on a tour of
Inverness, which was enjoyed in glorious
sunshine! Everyone was so glad to have
an actual bed to sleep on! (Even though
the tents were gone, the campers were
still subjected to dorm inspections!). On
the final evening there was a very special
US Independence Day Ceilidh and
supper with a live ceilidh band.
Just as all good things must come to an
end, so ended this wonderful adventure.
It was heartbreaking to say goodbye to
the people they’d come to know and
love. Almost all of the trippers are still in
touch today and though separated by
thousands of miles of land and ocean,
they still consider these people as some
of their best friends. It seems as though
it wasn’t goodbye after all, but rather,
‘ta-ta’ till tomorrow…!
April 2010 The Boys’ Brigade Gazette 49