Camp activities (or inactivities)

The differences between this camp and the ones in Denmark were bigger and more visible than I had ever imagined. A complete disregard for rules that are taken for granted in Denmark, set the scene for an interesting camp. But it didn't stop there, the activities and the way they were planned was also quite a surprise.

When at a large camp such as Stavanger each troop of scouts gets a small camp of their own. This area is theirs to do with (almost) as they please. It is customary to build a type of entrance and a kitchen/eating area, which usually consists of one or more tables. All this is built out of long poles with their bark still on and rope.
In Denmark there are lots of rules and regs concerning these constructions: they must not be taller than x metres and if they are taller than a certain height, hardhats must be worn during the build. The poles we use have a maximum diameter and we usually take good care of them.
In Norway this is not the case at all: lots of troops built huge, elaborate structures, that reached for the sky and the whole time there was not a hardhat in sight. Regarding the poles, there seemed to be no limit to their diameter and weight. And the Norwegians took little or no care when handling them: more than once I saw scouts hacking away with axes at perfectly good poles; some were even used as firewood!
I assume the reason for this is that Norway has so much wood that it makes no difference if a pole is lost, but to me it was a sign of disrespect towards the poles themselves, but also the materials given to us by the camp; and ultimately, nature.

Though there were two major activities planned, the rest of the week was very much up to the individual scout. In the evenings, and sometimes during the day, there were drop-in activities. These weren't always that easy to find, though, and seemed directed mostly at younger children.
This is quite normal, but usually there is a little more than these activities. At the two former camps I have attended there have been so-called "mega-activities" which could entertain thousands of scouts at a time. There was always something to do. At Stavanger there was a much more relaxed air: the importance lay in being there and not what you were doing.