GUIDES from across South Cumbria enjoyed a fun packed adventure camp alongside some international visitors.

Girlguiding Cumbria South area held a camp which brought together 160 Guides, Young Leaders and their leaders from Barrow, Dalton, Askam, Ulverston, Broughton, Ambleside, Kendal and Arnside.

The guides spent four days at Waddow Hall, a Girlguiding Activity Centre in Lancashire, were they took part in grass sledging, canoeing, kayaking, tree climbing and climbing. They also went on a zip wire, and did archery, bushcraft, caving, ice skating, tubing, rafting, fencing, netball and belly dancing. The evenings there was also a disco and a campfire.

The group was joined by two Guides and two leaders from Armenia, a visit the Cumbrian girls had raised money for. In Armenia, a former Soviet Union country, Guides and Scouts were only founded in 1996.

Guide unit leader Tina Jackson, on a visit to Armenia, had suggested that some of the

Armenian girls and young women might attend the Curlew Camp.

Mrs Jackson said: “A large percentage of the members of the Armenian Guiding organisation are extremely poor and have very few opportunities to travel in Armenia let alone abroad. So inviting them to the camp gives these girls the opportunity to gain experience of international travel, something that most of us take for granted.”

Leah McMullen, 11 of Askam, said: “I liked the zip wire, even though it was scary”.

Tyeisha Stamp, 13, of Barrow said: "I conquered my fears and did some abseiling.”

Girlguiding County Commissioner Sue Gudgeon said: “It was great seeing the girls enjoying themselves, growing in confidence and having such an active time at camp, trying new activities and making new friends, especially with our guiding friends from Armenia. Thank you to all our volunteer leaders that made it happen.”