Girl Guides take on the challenge at the county camp in Ripon

Over 150 Guides and 35 Brownies, along with 60 leaders, from as far as Settle and Masham to Knaresborough and Harrogate, attended the six-day event and took part in a variety of activities. Leader of the 28 Harrogate Guides and camp spokesman Jean Tennant said: “We have had a fantastic week and we have been so lucky with the weather. “The girls have done a wide variety of activities from archery to bush craft to willow weaving and water-based activities.” Jean added that one of the highlights included a Bush Tucker challenge where Guides were put to a blind taste challenge. “It was nothing as bad as the TV show but we had one test where they thought they were told it was a cockroach but it was a date filled with sherbert. There were prizes for the winners.” Other highlights of the week included live bands Ripon-placed Pandamonium and Cynical Sounds, from Boroughbridge, performing. The leaders did not miss out on the fun and were challenged to a bellboat test on the water. And dignitaries from the area attended the open day last Saturday including The Mayoress of Harrogate Lynn Simms, the Mayor of Harrogate Coun Nigel Simms, The Mayor of Ripon Pauline McHardy, The Mayor of Ripon’s assistant Geoff Johnson, The Mayor of Knaresborough Andrew Willoughby and The Mayoress of Knaresborough Christine Willoughby. Jean added: “The mayor and mayoress of Knaresborough stayed all day and it was just lovely to see them walking around and talking with the girls.” She added: “Hopefully the camp will have given the girls the confidence to push themselves to do something they thought they couldn’t. “And it has helped them to make new friends from further afield.” *Send your news to: news@ripongazette.co.uk