FAQ | Pentjam

Frequently Asked Questions

When & where is the camp taking place?

PENTJAM '26 is taking place at Fordell Firs Scout Centre, Fife on 15th May 2026 - 17th May 2026. This event is available to all sections with Pentland Scouts, Edinburgh.

How do I register to go to Pentjam '26?

The organising team will send out an invite to join a shared OSM event and it will appear on your OSM noticeboard for you to accept.

We will send an invite out to all Pentland Section leaders once groups have been invited on the 15th November 2025.

I want to help at Pentjam '26, but I’m not a leader. Can I still help?

Yes! We need help from lots of adults to make Pentjam '26 a success and welcome volunteers. We need people to help with admin, activities, first aid, catering and more. To find out more about the roles available on the camp please see more information on our Adult Sign-Up page

How will I get my camping equipment to and from Fordell Firs?

All personal camping equipment should be taken with you when travelling on the coaches. You will be provided with a luggage label when you arrive at the coach meeting point, this should be attached to all kit you are taking.

All camping equipment provided by groups and personal tents should be transported with group equipment as arranged with the PENTJAM management team.

If there are any concerns, these should be directed to sections that can escalate to the management team where appropriate.

How will young people be allocated activities?

All section leaders have highlighted the young people who should be grouped together and these groups will be inputted into a random generator that will allocate young people a series of A, B & C class of activity so they are allocated as fairly as possible.

I have a dietary need, how do I let the camp know about these?

Everyone attending Pentjam ‘26 is asked during the sign up process to provide details of dietary requirements and the catering team will look to arrange a suitable alternative. If you have specific concern, then please let us know via the contact us page.

Do I need to bring uniform?

All participants and Leaders should arrive and leave camp in their Scout shirts and group neckie. Uniform helps us identify which section you are in a there will be a large number of participants this is key.

Will there be photography and filming?

Yes. We have a Media Team who will be taking photos and recording elements of the event.

Photography/filming/audio will be taken at the camp, this will be used in print and digital media formats including publications and social media. These images will be retained by Pentland Scouts to be used for promotional purposes and to archive the event.

Please note this is a large-scale event where the volume of attendees is high, and the event is spread over a large area. There will be video, photography & audio being recorded in all areas during the event.

Please make sure your leader is aware of your preferences.

Can I bring a pocket knife?

Young People are not allowed to bring a Pocket-Knife. Please leave them at home.
If you are found to have one on camp these will be removed from your person.

Can I bring a mobile phone?

Young People

Young people should NOT bring a mobile phone to the camp. If there is any situation where you or your child need to speak with one another, you will be able to do so through the section leader or using the emergency camp contact number. This will be available during the event on the website and pre-event documentation.

Leaders:

There will be charging facilities made available within the leader zone for you to charge your phone, however, we would advise you to bring along a battery pack if you have one as there will be over 200 adults on site.
There will be an emergency phone available in the camp office should you need to make any calls out and this number will be published closer to the event to all attendees.

How will I get to Pentjam '26? '?

Coaches will be provided centrally to reduce our impact on the environment and to reduce the number of vehicles at Fordell Firs due to the limited size of the site. You will receive detailed information about your travel arrangements, these will include the times of departure/arrival and meeting locations.

Squirrels who will be attending for the Saturday will receive more information but you will be required to make your own way to and from camp.

Beavers will be provided a single way journey to or from camp.

Friday - Saturday Camp: Will be provided a journey to get them TO camp.
Saturday - Sunday Camp: Will be provided a journey to get them RETURNED from camp.

Cubs, Scouts, Explorers & Leaders/ Young Leaders will be provided coaches for BOTH journeys.

I need to drive to camp, is there parking?

If you are dropping camping equipment off then you are able to do so between 12 pm Thursday 14th May 2026 until 4 pm Friday 15th May 2026.

The vehicle curfew will be lifted at approx. 4 pm on Sunday 17th May 2026 to allow adults to collect any equipment.

There will be no parking available on-site from 4 pm Friday except for service vehicles and for Squirrel & Beaver changeover times.
We will be running a minibus shuttle service from Halbeath Park & Ride to Pentjam '26 from 4 pm Friday 17th May 2026.

More details will be available for this in the weeks leading up to the camp.

Directions to Halbeath Park & Ride - View Here

Arriving as an adult helper Saturday/Sunday

If you are attending PENTJAM on Saturday or Sunday as an adult helper, we would ask you to make your way to Halbeath Park & Ride between 8 am & 8:30 am. We will be running a minibus shuttle service from Halbeath Park & Ride to the PENTJAM site.

Any issues with the shuttle you can call the emergency camp phone [Number will be published closer to the camp]