BUMPER car rides at 2.30am, dragon boat racing with Bear Grylls, midnight film screenings and the chance to go climbing and abseiling were just some of the activities at Dragon 24 – celebration of Scouting activities in Dorset.

Sleep was optional and the event, which ran from 2pm on Saturday until 2pm on Sunday, involved 2,500 youngsters aged between six and 18, plus 500 adult volunteers to make sure things ran smoothly.

Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and explorers from all corners of the county met at Buddens Scout Camp, near Bere Regis, to take part in the 24-hour fun-fest and even though the heavens opened, torrential rain failed to dampen the party atmosphere.

For most of the people, the highlight of the day was a whistle-stop visit by Chief Scout Bear Grylls, who was helicoptered in to the site on Saturday afternoon.

Dorset Scouts’ County Commissioner Mike Parkes said: “We all had an amazing time and Bear’s visit was really, really important for the kids.

“We tried our best to keep his visit a secret so he could get round the whole site, but in the end he was absolutely mobbed.

“But we did manage to get him round and he saw all the kids and the activities and took part in the dragon boat racing, banging the drum on one of the boats.

“He takes his role of Chief Scout very seriously and it was really good for the youngsters to see and meet him.”

Although everyone could take a sleeping bag to Dragon 24, most survived on a maximum of a few hours’ kip and preferred to stay up through the night. In the early hours and in monsoon-like conditions, a fairground set up on the site was doing a roaring trade, with long queues for the dodgems and spinning teacup ride.

Mike said: “Everyone was having an absolute whale of a time. I was determined to stay up all night and get round to see as many things as I could – I think I was the biggest kid in the park!

“In the end I managed a 20-minute powernap at around 4am but I had been out on the dodgems at 3am.”

Dragon 24 is just one of several residential activities that Dorset Scout Association runs throughout the year on top of the activities that every Beaver, Cub, Scout and Explorer pack enjoys every week.

To maintain this high level of fun, adventure and a learning, the association needs volunteers and Mike is keen to get more recruits.

“We do put on a lot of things for the kids but the more adult volunteers we have, the more we can do for them. If more people step forward and volunteer, we can do so much more.”

For further details visit the Dorset Scouts website at dorsetscouts.org.uk