THIRTY-SIX Beaver Scouts from Liss, Petersfield and Harting took part in the first national Damboree event to get the youngest members of the Scout movement sleeping out in tents.

The event was masterminded in a Facebook group in January by the Scout Association’s national technical advisor for nights away, Andy Sissons, who passionately believes that every Beaver Scout should have the opportunity to camp under canvas. Until 2015 this had just been reserved for the older sections of the Scouts.

Across the country, more than 13,000 Beaver Scouts will be camping out over the summer months.

Many of the Liss, Petersfield and Harting Beavers were spending their first ever night away from home, let alone in a tent, and they all rose to the challenge.

As well as camping, the Beavers were kept busy getting to grips with some basic Scouting skills, including fire lighting, marshmallow roasting, map reading, hiking and sitting around a campfire in the evening. All these activities will boost their confidence when they move on to the older sections in the movement.

The Beavers were joined by South Coast Damboree champion Ben Knowles.

Meanwhile, 20 Scouts from Liss had hiked to the site at Stedham to bivouac under the stars.