Winter Camp 2019

Winter Camp and all that that implies was what was delivered last weekend when we went to Battle Hill. 13 scouts and 4 leaders took on the elements and came away satisfied that they had defied them all and had a fantastic camp. Effort and an ongoing smiling faces is what saw us through. From the first day when we set up our tents and kitchens, planned and cooked our first meals, we were all positive.

Left to Right: Zac, Matt, Daniel, Ohara, Emyr, Max, Derrick, Adam, Lauree, Kym (behind), Amelia, Rosie, Hamish, Ciara, Calvin, Vanessa & Robin

The meals were a highlight for some. The first day we cooked on gas for lunch and fire for dinner. The dinners were well prepared and set out according to the menu plan everyone had. Simple meals that tasted good.

Day 2

Day 2 was the big day, with the building and setting up of our first attempt at our Jamboree gateway. The plan went well and we even got the gateway standing upright for a while, although not unsupported. Team work played a large part with the work being divided up between the scouts and then coming together at the end. One comment I heard, which I have taken to heart, was "I think we need to practice this some more!"

The final gate - umm,,definitely some practice needed

Ohara showing off his square lashing ability

The afternoon saw the scouts all preparing for their tramp. The intro was a little more than just a briefing with some instruction on separation and exposure, and search and rescue. These being a key part of the plan to get these scouts their "Hiking Badges". Then came the tramp.

from Derrick: "My watch did really well with even the youngest scout, Calvin, showing great determination to reach the top. There were no complaints, no mumblings, nothing but the stoic continuation of the tramp (sometimes backwards on the really steep bits, because "its easier"). Hot soup just beyond the summit (out of the cold) and then came the downhill piece. Completed really quickly obviously and everyone was back in camp around sunset having started at approx. 1pm. A good 4.5 hours walk."

Derricks Watch - The Martians

Kyms Watch - The Heros

from Robin: "Wow, where to begin? Rain. I remember there being quite a bit of rain. A LOT of rain in fact! And mud. An awful lot of mud! I'm fairly convinced more mud was snuck in and added to our existing mud each night as we slept. Through it all though the scouts were amazing. Mucking in (quite literally) and just getting on with all their jobs and helping each other out/working together. Great to see in action. I really was very impressed.

Thankfully I think I got a cruisey watch for the tramp - the BOIZZZ! (Boyz: Adam and Ohara.) They really did make light work of the 4.5 hour tramp. With their constant chatter of lively conversation and easygoing teamwork they marched through all the checkpoints without complaint. Adam even took a spectacular panoramic shot from the summit, capturing the many hues of grey from the fog, mist, cloud and rain. I can almost feel the bracing wind just thinking back.

The hot soup was a welcome treat before heading back down that epic hill, again with a lively chatter of conversation and a couple of songs thrown in for good measure. Their upbeat attitude was fantastic.

Throughout the camp it was really great to see how well all the scouts worked together: building fires, mixing ingredients, prepping their meals, clearing their workstations/areas and washing up. Honestly there were so many bits and bobs they had to do and they just got stuck into everything.

The campfire singalongs were very entertaining but I can see it'll take a few more camps before I start knowing most of the words. (I'm a big fan of "The quatermaster's store", that was a new one for me.)

Overall I was super impressed by how upbeat everyone was despite the weather. It made me really proud to be a newly invested Scout Leader. I'm looking forward to the next camp!"

Robyns Watch - The Boizz

from Vanessa: "The watch I hiked with were not bothered by the weather and time passed quickly with good company and a wide range of conversation. We set a good pace and kept catching up to the watch in front of us. “Get a move on, Kym!” We made our targets in the time we calculated using the map - “oh, about half an hour, just a few more corners." It was awesome when the cloud lifted enough to see the farm below. The hot soup was wonderful, particularly out of a pot. The girls had dinner planned and jobs were sorted before we even hit the stream."

Vanessa Watch - The Goyrls

The Summit in cloud

Then on to dinner, again prepared on a fire. This time with a first attempt at "Pan Garlic Bread". This was 3 quarters successful with only one of the four watches burning their bread.

Calvin at their dinner table

Emyr and Zac frying breakfast bacon

Hamish and Max preparing to boil water for washing

The occasional drizzle we had had up to that point was starting to get serious and the camp fire was delayed, eventually happening at about 8:30 that night, even then we got rained on. It turned into a bit of an informal affair with everyone suggesting songs and even a few skits in a bit of a random manner. It was fun though.

All did not end well on this day for some scouts. A mess of food left outside their tent and unwashed dishes and work surfaces, meant that said scouts were roused from their beds and made to complete their kitchen clean up after everyone else had gone to bed. When they finished this at 11:10pm they were allowed to return to their sleeping bags.

Day 3

Sunday did start off promising with sun making a brief appearance and a beautiful rainbow.

Then came the rain! The outstanding memory of Sunday. And Mud! A call was made early to ask parents to come in and help pack up. The programme was abandoned (except for the "Scouts Own", which we did during a lull in the rainfall)

Scouts Own was done with a Kaupapa theme - the scouts doing karakia and waiata. Then came the highlights:
- Robin was invested as a Leader - congratulations Robin; and
- Vanessa was awarded her Medal of Merit - Well deserved.

Vanessa with her ever present smile

Kym on Parade

Then to packing up. Muddy tents, muddy gear and getting everything into packs and then into cars and trailers. A story of rain and wet and mud. Many thanks to the parents for responding to the the call for help and coming prepared to get wet and muddy to help us get everything packed away. It was so good, as leaders, to see the support that came out as soon as we asked for help.

All ended well, no injuries and plenty of good, lasting memories.