Swiss National Day (1st August)

We had a lie in today, because KISC had arranged a 'Big Breakfast' at 9am. This was basically a huge outdoors breakfast for all the Scouts. It was on the football pitch right by the kid's camp, so all they had to do was fall out of bed and walk over. During breakfast there was a lot of enterntainment laid on - music playing, dancing, mass conga lines, that sort of thing. It was a kind of outdoor early morning disco!

After breakfast, the troop headed down to the village for a game of crazy golf. The sky was again clear, and the sun blazing. Sun cream was a necessity. It course itself was fiendishly difficult. We had lunch there, and everyone had a great time. Dean did exceptionally well, getting two holes in one. He was later given due recognition of this when Rob presented him with a Toblerone bar in a little award ceremony.

We then had some free time to do some souvenir shopping, before heading back to camp. Once back everone changed into their cow costumes, and we headed off to the afternoon carnival. There were plenty of stalls, some run by KISC staff, some by Scouts. There was a brilliant human-table-football game, and a gladiator style 'fighting with giant earbuds' game. Some stalls were offering a taste of their local country - some Germans were offering delicious rosti, and a group from Yorkshire did a roaring trade in Yorkshire tea (with all the English leaders!). There was even a Kandersteg talent contents (we didn't win despite the girls' heart rending version of 'old mcdonald had a farm') and a triva quiz on the main stage.

Once the carnival was over, it was off to the Chalet for a BBQ. Around 8 o'clock the Scouts got their uniforms on, and headed to the football pitch. All 1400 Scouts where there, in full uniform with flags and banners - quite a sight. There was a brief ceremony, introducing all the countries reprented (14 in all I think), and telling us about Swiss National Day. The Scouts were then organised into a parade, and we all headed down into the village. We had been told to make 'as much noise as possible' - and they did! There were camp fire songs sung, drums played, and even voovoozavers (???) from the World Cup were played. We were to assemble in the main park, where a stage was setup, and some traditional Swiss entertainment was to be provided. There was a Swiss brass band (and um-pah band if you like!) and folks playing alpine horns (the huge things). The whole lot was to be finished off with a huge fireworks display. The only problem was the weather. The sweltering heat of the day had passed, and thick angry clouds were rushing up the valley. We had just assembled in the park when the heavens opened. It was torrential rain, accompanied by thunder, and within a few minutes it was clear that waiting an hour or so for the fireworks was not going to be sensible. So we all marched back to camp in the rain, leaving what surely had to be some very disappointed Swiss hosts. We got the Scouts quickly dry and into bed when we got back to camp. Lets hope tomorrow is a little drier!