Wairakei Camp, Taupō (Leaders summary)

60kg or rubbish and 40kg of recycling were some of the measurable outcomes of this camp, however, what is not measurable is the experiences gained and life lessons learned.

What is also a fact is that we went through screeds of sunscreen.  With temperatures regularly hitting the 30’s and our activities almost exclusively outdoors, the scouts were applying 3, 4 and sometimes 5 times a day.  And even with that we had some who had some very red patches.

As with any camp, there is a team of very effective leaders making it all happen: Neil, Rachel, Grant, Kym, Dougal, Angus and Robin.  A huge thank you to them all.  And also to those other section leaders, scout helpers and associates who also stepped in to help: Megan, Dene, Nicki and Ross.  When next you see them, please acknowledge the effort they put into this camp.  It has been massive.

Setting up camp when we arrived

We also had support from 

• Wairakei Primary School – Thank you fcor allowing us to use the school grounds and hall buildings.  They were absolutely great for this camp and provided a great base for all of our activities
• 1st Taupo Scouts – Thank you for allowing us to use your Sea Scout Ship (Den), Boats and other equipment including the electric winch for pulling the boats up the ramp.
• 1st Ngongataha Scout Group – For the use of their Scout Den near Rotorua for our overnight stay there, and the advice on what would be suitable activities.

We will let the scouts tell you about their experiences, but the main activities consisted of:

• In Taupo
• White Water River Rafting
• Mountain Biking
• River Float on the Waikato River
• Sailing, Swimming, and other water activities on the Lake, including sailing to the Maori carvings at Mine Bay

Rose and Hannah at the Maori Carvings in Mine Bay

• In Rotorua
• Redwoods Treewalk
• The Blue Lake in Rotorua
• The Mud Pools
• Okere Falls
• Waiotapu Hot Pools / Kerosene Creek

Hannah on Rose and Hamish on Kalina at the Blue Lake in Rototua

Blue Contingent at the Mud Pools of Waiotapu
Back Row L-R: Robin, Grant ash, Sean, Emyr, Jacob, James, Kym, Megan, Sam Rose
Front Row L-R: Ruby, Kalina, Annaliese, Hannah, Alex, Bronson, Jesse, Lily, Toby, Hamish

From left: Emyr, Sean, Lily, Sam, Alex, Ruan, Toby, Jame, Ash - Looking out over Sulphur Point

Ruby & Annaliese enjoying ice blocks at the 1st Ngongotaha Scout Den where we spent the night

We were more people this year than last year at Whakaipo Bay.  48 of us left the den to head up to Taupō and enjoy 9 days of great adventure.  As per last year, we were unable to accommodate the whole group at some activities, so split the group in two and went separate ways in contingents (Blue – lead by Jesse and Bronson, and Green – lead by Rosie and Calvin).

As per last year the weather played a big part in what we did.  However, rather than wind we had to contend with sun and heat.  Looking for shade and water to cool down became a theme and the ring of “Have you put sunscreen on?” is probably still echoing in some scouts ears.

This year as per last, we had to arrange an anchor watch for the boats.  They were left in the water overnight for three nights and the scouts each did a 2 hour shift over the hours of darkness keeping an eye on the boats, as per the Taupō Harbour Masters request.

The boats at anchor outside the Sea Scout Den

The campsite this year was at Wairakei Primary School, a little way outside of Taupō and not a place where we based any activities, so everywhere was a drive to get to.  Our meals were made there and we all ate together in the hall.  The big playground made an excellent soccer field and a lot of the scouts used their downtime to play or simply wander away in small groups.  The climbing frames were another good escape.

Soccer played on the school field

My personal opinion is that this camp was better than the last, although the heat put a damper on things a little and being longer, it was more tiring.  I think if you ask the scouts it will be this camp, hands down, that they will remember for the longest.

Now looking forward to the next camp ...

Link to the collections of photographs: https://photos.app.goo.gl/6QCWji4Z3KVMcuPM8

Link to the collection of white water rafting photographs (Warning, there a lot of them): https://photos.app.goo.gl/hhJqJsm5M8rJuN2y5