Facilities in Northamptonshire

Facilities

• Electric lighting, power sockets, Gas central heating and hot water
• Fully fitted kitchen with freezer, fridge and electric hob
• 2 electric showers, 4 flushing toilets and wash basins in seperate cubicles
• Camp beds, plates, mugs, bowls and cutlery for 18 staying inside the hut
• Separate leaders room with bench seating
• Fully equipped for 36 campers
• Altar fire and BBQ
• Sufficient tables and chairs for outside and in
• Games equipment such as parachute and rounders
• Archery, Pioneering, Shooting, Crafts, and the Jubilee Challenge!

Around the Area

• White Water Rafting and Canoeing at Nene Whitewater Centre, Northampton
• Horse Riding at Manor Farm Riding School at Easton Maudit
• Grendon Hall offers archery, climbing, swimming and water activities
• Craft Shops and church in the Castle Ashby village. There are also food shops in nearby villages
• Northampton is only a few miles away with shops, swimming, museums, cinemas, theatres etc.
• Archery and Water Activites can also be organised by prior arrangment.

Pricing for 2012 is as follows:

• Camping one price - £4.75pppn (inc Electric & Gas)
• Overnight - £4.75pppn (inc Electric & Gas)
• Day Booking - £20 (inc Electric & Gas)
• Evening Booking - £15 (inc Electric & Gas)

A booking can be obtained from Kitty Robinson details from the Unity Centre. A non-returnable deposit of £20 is required to secure the booking for camps and overnight stays, but the full fee is required for day and evening bookings. Cheques are made payable to 'The Guide Association Northants Camp Account'.

There is also a £10 heating supplement per residential stay from 1st October – 1st April

Please note: All bookings must be confirmed by sending in the booking form and the deposit or full fee (as appropriate) within 14 days of receiving the booking.

Unity Centre

The Unity centre is our County Head Office site.

Address

The Unity Centre
Unit 1 Brookfield
Duncan Close
Moulton Park
Northampton
Northants
NN3 6WL

Along with Birmingham, Northamptonshire owns the Tuponia Narrow Boat which is moored at Lapworth, Warwichshire. Tuptonia is a 12 berth narrowboat, 21 metres (70 feet) in length.

Tuptonia is ideal for planning something new or different for your unit - maybe a weekend for your Brownie Pack or even a week with your Guide unit. Perhaps it could be a peaceful weekend outing for your District team.

Many Brownies, Guides, Senior Section members and adult Leaders, have already enjoyed trips on Tuptonia. Why not book your Tuptonia weekend now!

Tuptonia is also available for hire by non-members of the Guide Association - leave the hustle and bustle and mad crowds behind and spend some lazy days chugging through the countryside at a leisurely pace, hopping off every now and again to operate the locks!

For more information on the Tuptonia, please visit the dedicated website: www.tuptonia.org.uk

Introduction - Ajax is a 17 ½ foot wooden pulling gig. She was built for the Northampton Sea Rangers in 1969 and launched on September 3rd. She currently lives at Cogenhoe Mill on the River Nene and can be used by Guides, Rangers, Young Leaders, Guiders and Trefoil Guild. She is available to be used by the Scouts also.

Why Rowing? – Historically as Britain was a sea faring nation rowing was an essential skill for all naval personnel to get from ship to shore. Although we have engines these days if that breaks what do you do? Well, you row. Most people in Northampton today do not expect to be stranded between ship and shore of course and Northampton is a long way from the sea. Northamptonshire does have lots of water in the form of a river, a canal and many ponds, lakes, gravel pits and reservoirs however.

Rowing therefore can be used as part of teaching about ‘Water Safety’ in general. It is also a great ‘Team Building’ activity. It is outdoors, in the fresh air, it is exercise and you get physics, biology, history and nature lessons thrown in depending on what is seen or what time of year it is. It covers so much of the guiding programme.

Qualification - You do need a qualified coxswain as Ajax is a big boat and everyone needs guidance to get going. The booking secretary can sort out a coxswain for you or you can join one of the annual coxswain courses and become one yourself.

Numbers - Depending on the size and strength of the individual, Ajax needs 5-8 people to row her out on the river. A coxswain can therefore give a basic lesson to many guides in a 3 hour evening. The remainder of the girls are expected to be kept occupied by the guider on the bank. There are plenty of directions to walk in and explore. There is also Cogenhoe lock to investigate and a small playground. Alternatively games can be played on the grass or bring some craft or quiz or other activity. Ropes can be borrowed from the water team to practice line throwing for the ‘Water Safety’ badge, or to practice knots.

Hiring - Ajax is available to hire any day of the week and any time it is daylight. Ajax does live on a river which is subject to the laws of nature however, so after heavy rains the river may become unsafe and any bookings may have to be postponed. To book email Northants Guide County Head Office, Unity Centre on northantsguides@tiscali.co.uk and ask for the Ajax Booking Secretary contact details.

Cost – currently in 2008 the cost is £1 per girl with £15 as a minimum charge for a basic evening lesson.

Experienced – Once you have learnt to row, after a few lessons and practice, you can think about doing an expedition to explore up or downstream in a day and take a picnic. You can go through a lock or two. Then there is also the Peterborough Row to take part in where Ajax is relayed 50 miles downstream by 22 teams till she reaches Peterborough where the river becomes tidal. D of E and Queens Guide Expeditions are also a possibility.