In the first of a series of articles, Laura Heatherley talks to Maggie Silver, Guide Organiser for Charnwood 2006, about her experiences in the past and dreams for the future.

August 2006 may seem far off, but for camp organiser Maggie Silver it's going to come around very quickly. Maggie first became involved in Charnwood in 1991, when she worked on the staff catering team, as she puts it "the camp of Jason Donovan and the sheep and fireworks". Since then she has done a different job every time, but now that she has asked to be an organiser she feels a huge sense of responsibility. She says that you have to be crazy to be an organiser, but I think she was even crazier to volunteer for the job.

Preparations are now well underway for Charnwood 2006, but Maggie says they started at the end of 2001! Maggie and the three other organisers are currently deciding between two sites for the camp. When I asked her what they were looking for in a camp site, she said that security of the campers was their main concern, followed by other practicalities such as water, power, phone lines, flat camping ground, the cost, and whether the portaloo lorry would be able to get around easily to empty the loos. But most importantly, the potential site just has to have the "wow factor".

The organisers are very keen to encourage lots of international visitors this year. In 2001, around 500 visitors from 16 countries attended, and this time they would like even more. I asked Maggie how they plan to encourage more international visitors and she said that anyone who goes abroad with Guiding or Scouting will be asked to take a stack of flyers for the camp to distribute. As well as this, they plan to have an International Day at the camp.

As to ideas about themes, current speculation is that the theme will be something to do with "Through the Ages", which may involve having a different decade every day, but this could all change.

Maggie also says that they hope to do something different with the senior section this time around, which could involve them spending a couple of days off site on an activity or service project.

She also mentioned that they are hoping to invite some of the younger sections to come and visit for a day as well.

Maggie says that over the years some things at Charnwood have changed while others haven't, but this year she said they are going to use their experience while trying to bring in new blood and ideas, to bring something new and different to Charnwood in 2006.

For people who have never been to Charnwood before, I asked Maggie what they should expect and why they should come. Top of Maggie's list was that it is a chance to meet over 3000 people from around the country and the world. She says that it is an incredibly fun camp, where you can try lots of new activities during both the day and evening, such as racing a toilet around the car park, Maggie's particular favourite. She also said that it is a chance to participate in the best opening and closing ceremonies you will ever have been too.

Maggie says that the Organisers are hoping that as many leaders as possible will bring their Guides and Scouts to camp, and that all the adults, who work so hard at camp, will also have an enjoyable time!!

An attraction for many people is that it is a co-education camp, with both Scouts and Guides. Maggie's favourite memory of Charnwood past is a photo of a row of Guide tents opposite a row of Scout tents, with the Guides and Scouts lying on the floor outside their respective tents and chatting to each other. She says that is what Charnwood is all about.

Finally, I asked Maggie what her favourite biscuit is, which is of course a very important need to know fact which can tell you a lot about someone's personality. Maggie says that it has to be something you can dunk, and chose a chocolate chip cookie because she likes how the chocolate bits melt in her hot drink. Make your own judgements from that.