BEAVERS, cubs and scouts from Clackmannanshire took part in a virtual scout camp which saw them socialising with their peers down under earlier this month.

Wee County scouts of all ranks and those from Falkirk, Stirlingshire and West Lothian took part in the event, which ran throughout the weekend beginning on June 13.

The event was organised by Forth Region Scout Council, and saw around 600 young people and 100 adults come together, virtually, to take part.

Using video conferencing, youngsters started off the weekend with a live link to Scouts in New Zealand who taught them how scouting differs down under.

They were also able to ask questions and find out about the different culture – but were mainly interested in what sweets New Zealanders ate.

The scouts in New Zealand then taught the Scots a new campfire song, which was tested out later that day.

Following on from the live link, Scots scouts were set a range of challenges, including sailing a tin of beans across their bath, making their lunch with one hand behind their back, a coded scavenger hunt and a family quiz.

Alongside these challenges the scouts wrote letters and made videos to remind those who are within care homes that everyone was still thinking of them.

After dinner, a 'campfire' was conducted over the video link, where parents looked on with amusement as the scouts jumped around to the actions of 'The Little Green Frog'.

Youngsters then took themselves to their tents – pitched in their garden – or a den that they had created somewhere in the house after drinking hot chocolate.

One parent said: "It was a very new experience for the kids and mine enjoyed [it] a lot."