AT ROTOITI

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 47, 9 February 1945, Page 5

AT ROTOITI

ENJOYABLE WEEK'S CAMP

AWAKERI & ROTOITI TROOPS

The newly acquired Boy Scouts camping area at Lake Rotoiti, began its period of service to the youth of the nation, when last week, six Scouts of the Rotoiti Maori troop under S.M. and 15 Scouts of the Awakeri troop and S.M. T. Howell and A. S.M. B. Knight, camped together in perfect harmony and good fellowship.

From the ceremonial flag break and prayers which was the official beginning of the day, ' till sundown in the evening, the days of glorious sunshine, were packed full ? with healthy outdoor fun, entertainment and instruction.

The camp was run under the patrol system, i.e. Each small group living together as a family unit, attending to its own cooking and living arrangements. The standard of efficiency reached a fairly high improving daily with competition. Acting P.L. Pat Carter a who successfully filled the role of Quartermaster being the winner with 207 marks* out of a possible 240. The next in order were: P.L. Walter Reynolds of the 'Stag' Patrol with 198, Rotoiti 194, Huias 182 j Tuis 177. A feature,which attracted the attention of many visitors was, the large oven constructed under careful supervision, from old bricks and an oil drum —the boys actually puddling the clay lor the and doing the building themselves, t Their reward came later s when they sat down to a delicious meal of roast pork the meat kindly being donated by a friendly and interested pig hunter, and dealt with most, efficaciously by the- oven firstly, and then with keen enjoyment and hearty appetites and many appreciative comments by the boys.

Most of the morning periods were occupied in instruction for Tenderfoot and Second Class tests; the Awaken boys acting as instructors to the lads of the newly formed Rotoiti troop.

There were pleasant walks through the cool bush, with talks, and demonstrations by S.M. Morgan on observation and cortcealment in the bush, and there were boating and swimming j several boys learning to swim and two boys completing portion of the test for 'Swimmers' badge. In the evening, the family gathered round the camp fire exchanging anecdotes and the' Maori lads singing in their soft harmony in the perfect setting of the lakeside.

Happy friendships were and at the final gathering, a large Maori carved from a block of pumice by one of the Rotoiti boys was presented to the Awakeri group. No serious accidents occurred tj apart from the usual cuts and scratches common to youthful outdoor activities and these were*attended to by the Scouts themselves. The boys, returned to their homes on Saturday afternoon, looking fit and brown } and ready for anything.